Decoding the gene regulatory network of endosperm differentiation in maize.

The persistent cereal endosperm constitutes the majority of the grain volume. Dissecting the gene regulatory network underlying cereal endosperm development will facilitate yield and quality improvement of cereal crops. Here, we use single-cell transcriptomics to analyze the developing maize (Zea mays) endosperm during cell differentiation. After obtaining transcriptomic data from 17,022 single cells, we identify 12 cell clusters corresponding to five endosperm cell types and revealing complex transcriptional heterogeneity. We delineate the temporal gene-expression pattern from 6 to 7 days after pollination. We profile the genomic DNA-binding sites of 161 transcription factors differentially expressed between cell clusters and constructed a gene regulatory network by combining the single-cell transcriptomic data with the direct DNA-binding profiles, identifying 181 regulons containing genes encoding transcription factors along with their high-confidence targets, Furthermore, we map the regulons to endosperm cell clusters, identify cell-cluster-specific essential regulators, and experimentally validated three predicted key regulators. This study provides a framework for understanding cereal endosperm development and function at single-cell resolution.

Ribosomal protein S3 mediates drug resistance of proteasome inhibitor: potential therapeutic application in multiple myeloma.

Multiple myeloma (MM) remains incurable due to drug resistance. Ribosomal protein S3 (RPS3) has been identified as a non-Rel subunit of NF-κB. However, the detailed biological roles of RPS3 remain unclear. Here, we report for the first time that RPS3 is necessary for MM survival and drug resistance. RPS3 was highly expressed in MM, and knockout of RPS3 in MM inhibited cell growth and induced cell apoptosis both in vitro and in vivo. Overexpression of RPS3 mediated the proteasome inhibitor resistance of MM and shortened the survival of MM tumor-bearing animals. Moreover, our present study found an interaction between RPS3 and the thyroid hormone receptor interactor 13 (TRIP13), an oncogene related to MM tumorigenesis and drug resistance. We demonstrated that the phosphorylation of RPS3 was mediated by TRIP13 via PKCδ, which played an important role in activating the canonical NF-κB signaling and inducing cell survival and drug resistance in MM. Notably, the inhibition of NF-κB signaling by the small-molecule inhibitor targeting TRIP13, DCZ0415, was capable of triggering synergistic cytotoxicity when combined with bortezomib in drug-resistant MM. This study identifies RPS3 as a novel biomarker and therapeutic target in MM.

TI17, a novel compound, exerts anti-MM activity by impairing Trip13 function of DSBs repair and enhancing DNA damage.

BACKGROUND: Thyroid hormone receptor interacting protein 13 (Trip13) is an AAA-ATPase that regulates the assembly or disassembly protein complexes and mediates Double-strand breaks (DSBs) repair. Overexpression of Trip13 has been detected in many cancers and is associated with myeloma progression, disease relapse and poor prognosis inmultiple myeloma (MM). METHODS: We have identified a small molecular, TI17, through a parallel compound-centric approach, which specifically targets Trip13. To identify whether TI17 targeted Trip13, pull-down and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR) assays were performed. Cell counting kit-8, clone formation, apoptosis and cell cycle assays were applied to investigate the effects of TI17. We also utilized a mouse model to investigate the effects of TI17 in vivo. RESULTS: TI17 effectively inhibited the proliferation of MM cells, and induced the cycle arrest and apoptosis of MM cells. Furthermore, treatment with TI17 abrogates tumor growth and has no apparent side effects in mouse xenograft models. TI17 specifically impaired Trip13 function of DSBs repair and enhanced DNA damage responses in MM. Combining with melphalan or HDAC inhibitor panobinostat triggers synergistic anti-MM effect. CONCLUSIONS: Our study suggests that TI17 could be acted as a specific inhibitor of Trip13 and supports a preclinical proof of concept for therapeutic targeting of Trip13 in MM.

Identification of a novel cuproptosis-related gene signature for multiple myeloma diagnosis.

BACKGROUND: Multiple myeloma (MM) ranks second among the most prevalent hematological malignancies. Recent studies have unearthed the promise of cuproptosis as a novel therapeutic intervention for cancer. However, no research has unveiled the particular roles of cuproptosis-related genes (CRGs) in the prediction of MM diagnosis. METHODS: Microarray data and clinical characteristics of MM patients were obtained from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. Differentially expressed gene analysis, least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) and support vector machine-recursive feature elimination (SVM-RFE) algorithms were applied to identify potential signature genes for MM diagnosis. Predictive performance was further assessed by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves, nomogram analysis, and external data sets. Functional enrichment analysis was performed to elucidate the involved mechanisms. Finally, the expression of the identified genes was validated by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) in MM cell samples. RESULTS: The optimal gene signature was identified using LASSO and SVM-RFE algorithms based on the differentially expressed CRGs: ATP7A, FDX1, PDHA1, PDHB, MTF1, CDKN2A, and DLST. Our gene signature-based nomogram revealed a high degree of accuracy in predicting MM diagnosis. ROC curves showed the signature had dependable predictive ability across all data sets, with area under the curve values exceeding 0.80. Additionally, functional enrichment analysis suggested significant associations between the signature genes and immune-related pathways. The expression of the genes was validated in MM cells, indicating the robustness of these findings. CONCLUSION: We discovered and validated a novel CRG signature with strong predictive capability for diagnosing MM, potentially implicated in MM pathogenesis and progression through immune-related pathways.

The novel norcantharidin derivative DCZ5417 suppresses multiple myeloma progression by targeting the TRIP13-MAPK-YWHAE signaling pathway.

BACKGROUND: Multiple myeloma (MM), an incurable disease owing to drug resistance, requires safe and effective therapies. Norcantharidin (NCTD), an active ingredient in traditional Chinese medicines, possesses activity against different cancers. However, its toxicity and narrow treatment window limit its clinical application. In this study, we synthesized a series of derivatives of NCTD to address this. Among these compounds, DCZ5417 demonstrated the greatest anti-MM effect and fewest side effects. Its anti-myeloma effects and  the mechanism were further tested. METHODS: Molecular docking, pull-down, surface plasmon resonance-binding, cellular thermal shift, and ATPase assays were used to study the targets of DCZ5417. Bioinformatic, genetic, and pharmacological approaches were used to elucidate the mechanisms associated with DCZ5417 activity. RESULTS: We confirmed a highly potent interaction between DCZ5417 and TRIP13. DCZ5417 inhibited the ATPase activity of TRIP13, and its anti-MM activity was found to depend on TRIP13. A mechanistic study verified that DCZ5417 suppressed cell proliferation by targeting TRIP13, disturbing the TRIP13/YWHAE complex and inhibiting the ERK/MAPK signaling axis. DCZ5417 also showed a combined lethal effect with traditional anti-MM drugs. Furthermore, the tumor growth-inhibitory effect of DCZ5417 was demonstrated using in vivo tumor xenograft models. CONCLUSIONS: DCZ5417 suppresses MM progression in vitro, in vivo, and in primary cells from drug-resistant patients, affecting cell proliferation by targeting TRIP13, destroying the TRIP13/YWHAE complex, and inhibiting ERK/MAPK signaling. These results imply a new and effective therapeutic strategy for MM treatment.

Dihydrocelastrol induces antitumor activity and enhances the sensitivity of bortezomib in resistant multiple myeloma by inhibiting STAT3-dependent PSMB5 regulation.

Multiple myeloma (MM) is characterized by excessive aggregation of B-cell-derived malignant plasma cells in the hematopoietic system of bone marrow. Previously, we synthesized an innovative molecule named dihydrocelastrol (DHCE) from celastrol, a triterpene purified from medicinal plant Tripterygium wilfordii. Herein, we explore the therapeutic properties and latent signal transduction mechanism of DHCE action in bortezomib (BTZ)-resistant (BTZ-R) MM cells. In this study, we first report that DHCE shows antitumor activities in vitro and in vivo and exerts stronger inhibitory effects than celastrol on BTZ-R cells. We find that DHCE inhibits BTZ-R cell viability by promoting apoptosis via extrinsic and intrinsic pathways and suppresses BTZ-R MM cell proliferation by inducing G0/G1 phase cell cycle arrest. In addition, inactivation of JAK2/STAT3 and PI3K/Akt pathways are involved in the DHCE-mediated antitumor effect. Simultaneously, DHCE acts synergistically with BTZ on BTZ-R cells. PSMB5, a molecular target of BTZ, is overexpressed in BTZ-R MM cells compared with BTZ-S MM cells and is demonstrated to be a target of STAT3. Moreover, DHCE downregulates PSMB5 overexpression in BTZ-R MM cells, which illustrates that DHCE overcomes BTZ resistance through increasing the sensitivity of BTZ in resistant MM via inhibiting STAT3-dependent PSMB5 regulation. Overall, our findings imply that DHCE may become a potential therapeutic option that warrants clinical evaluation for BTZ-R MM.

A novel alkaloid compound, DCZ0358, exerts significant antitumor activity in bortezomib-resistant multiple myeloma cells through inhibition of JAK2/STAT3 pathway.

Multiple myeloma (MM), the second most common haematological malignancy, is currently incurable because patients often develop multiple drug resistance and experience subsequent relapse of the disease. This study aims to identify a potential therapeutic agent that can counter bortezomib (BTZ) resistance in MM. DCZ0358, a novel alkaloid compound, is found to exert potent cytotoxic effects against BTZ-resistant MM cells in vivo and in vitro. The anti-myeloma activity of DCZ0358 is associated with inhibition of cell proliferation, promotion of cell apoptosis via caspase-mediated apoptotic pathways, and induction of G0/G1 phase arrest via downregulation of cyclin D1, CDK4, and CDK6. Further investigation of the molecular mechanism shows that DCZ0358 suppresses the JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway. In conclusion, DCZ0358 can successfully counter BTZ resistance in MM cells. This study provides evidence that warrants future preclinical assessments of DCZ0358 as a therapeutic agent against BTZ resistance in MM.

DCZ0014, a novel compound in the therapy of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma via the B cell receptor signaling pathway.

Diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is a clinical and genetically heterogeneous lymphoid malignancy. Although R-CHOP (rituximab plus cyclophosphamide, vincristine, doxorubicin, and prednisone) treatment can improve the survival rate of patients with DLBCL, more than 30% of patients exhibit treatment failure, relapse, or refractory disease. Therefore, novel drugs or targeted therapies are needed to improve the survival of patients with DLBCL. The compound DCZ0014 is a novel chemical similar to berberine. In this study, we found that DCZ0014 significantly inhibited the proliferation and activity of DLBCL cells, and induced cell apoptosis. Following treatment with DCZ0014, DLBCL cells accumulated in G0/G1-phase of the cell cycle and showed decreased mitochondrial membrane potential. Additionally, DCZ0014 inhibited DNA synthesis, enhanced DNA damage in DLBCL cells, as well as inhibited Lyn/Syk in B cell receptor signaling pathway. Further experiments demonstrated that DCZ0014 did not significantly affect peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Tumor xenograft model showed that DCZ0014 not only inhibited tumor growth but also extended the survival time of mice. Thus, DCZ0014 showed potential for clinical application in the treatment of patients with DLBCL.

Obesity-associated up-regulation of lipocalin 2 protects gastric mucosa cells from apoptotic cell death by reducing endoplasmic reticulum stress.

Gastric mucosal injury is a less well known complication of obesity. Its mechanism remains to be further elucidated. Here, we explored the protective role of lipocalin 2 (LCN2) against endoplasmic reticulum stress and cell apoptosis in gastric mucosa in patients and mice with obesity. Through molecular and genetic analyses in clinical species, LCN2 secreted by parietal cells expression is elevated in obese. Immunofluorescence, TUNEL, and colorimetry results show that a more significant upregulation of pro-inflammatory factors and increased amount of apoptotic cells in gastric tissue sections in obese groups. Loss- and gain-of-function experiments in gastric epithelial cells demonstrate that increased LCN2 protected against obesity associated gastric injury by inhibiting apoptosis and improving inflammatory state. In addition, this protective effect was mediated by repressing ER stress. Our findings identify LCN2 as a gastric hormone could be a compensatory protective factor against gastric injury in obese.

Novel cyclophosphamide of natural products osalmide and pterostilbene induces cytotoxicity and cell cycle arrest in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma cells.

Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is the most common category and disease entity of non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Osalmide and pterostilbene are natural products with anticancer activities via different mechanism. In this study, using a new synthetic strategy for the two natural products, we obtained the compound DCZ0801, which was previously found to have anti-multiple myeloma activity. We performed both in vitro and in vivo assays to investigate its bioactivity and explore its underlying mechanism against DLBCL cells. The results showed that DCZ0801 treatment gave rise to a dose- and time-dependent inhibition of cell viability as determined by CCK-8 assay and flow cytometry assay. Western blot analysis results showed that the expression of caspase-3, caspase-8, caspase-9 and Bax was increased, while BCL-2 and BCL-XL levels were decreased, which suggested that DCZ0801 inhibited cell proliferation and promoted intrinsic apoptosis. In addition, DCZ0801 induced G0/G1 phase arrest by downregulating the protein expression levels of CDK4, CDK6 and cyclin D1. Furthermore, DCZ0801 exerted an anti-tumor effect by down-regulating the expressions of p-PI3K and p-AKT. There also existed a trend that the expression of p-JNK and p-P38 was restrained. Intraperitoneal injection of DCZ0801 suppressed tumor development in xenograft mouse models. The preliminary metabolic study showed that DCZ0801 displayed a rapid metabolism within 30 min. These results demonstrated that DCZ0801 may be a new potential anti-DLBCL agent in DLBCL therapy.

A Small-Molecule Inhibitor Targeting TRIP13 Suppresses Multiple Myeloma Progression.

The AAA-ATPase TRIP13 drives multiple myeloma progression. Here, we present the crystal structure of wild-type human TRIP13 at a resolution of 2.6 Å. A small-molecule inhibitor targeting TRIP13 was identified on the basis of the crystal structure. The inhibitor, designated DCZ0415, was confirmed to bind TRIP13 using pull-down, nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, and surface plasmon resonance-binding assays. DCZ0415 induced antimyeloma activity in vitro, in vivo, and in primary cells derived from drug-resistant patients with myeloma. The inhibitor impaired nonhomologous end joining repair and inhibited NF-κB activity. Moreover, combining DCZ0415 with the multiple myeloma chemotherapeutic melphalan or the HDAC inhibitor panobinostat induced synergistic antimyeloma activity. Therefore, targeting TRIP13 may be an effective therapeutic strategy for multiple myeloma, particularly refractory or relapsed multiple myeloma. SIGNIFICANCE: These findings identify TRIP13 as a potentially new therapeutic target in multiple myeloma.

DCZ0814 induces apoptosis and G0/G1 phase cell cycle arrest in myeloma by dual inhibition of mTORC1/2.

Purpose: The present study investigates the effect of DCZ0814 in multiple myeloma (MM) cells, and determines the molecular mechanism of its antitumor activity against MM. Methods: The effects of DCZ0814 were evaluated in vitro using human MM cell lines (ARP1 and OCI-MY5) and in vivo in a murine xenograft MM model. Cell viability was measured with the CCK-8 assay and mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) was assessed with the JC-1 dye. Apoptosis and cell cycle distribution were examined by flow cytometry. Inhibition of mTORC1 and mTORC2 was assessed by western blot analysis, and the synergistic effect of DCZ0814 and known MM drugs was assessed by calculating the combination index value, using the CalcuSyn software. Results: DCZ0814 effectively inhibited proliferation in MM cells, an effect that was associated with the induction of apoptosis, G0/G1 cell cycle arrest, MMP reduction and reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation. Meanwhile, DCZ0814 repressed the mTOR signaling via dual mTORC1/C2 inhibition and overcame the protective effect of the bone marrow (BM) microenvironment in myeloma cells. In addition, co-treatment with DCZ0814 and other anti-MM agents induced synergistic effects. Finally, the efficacy of the DCZ0814 treatment was confirmed in an MM xenograft mouse model. Conclusion: DCZ0814 exhibits potent anti-MM activity and abrogates the activation of the mTOR/Akt signaling pathway mediated by the BM stroma-derived cytokines. Our results provide a theoretical basis for the development of novel therapeutic strategies in MM using DCZ0814 as a natural product combination compound.

Rafoxanide, an organohalogen drug, triggers apoptosis and cell cycle arrest in multiple myeloma by enhancing DNA damage responses and suppressing the p38 MAPK pathway.

Rafoxanide is used in veterinary medicine for the treatment of fascioliasis. We previously repositioned the drug as the inhibitor of B-Raf V600E, but its anti-tumor effect in human cancer has never been reported. In this study, we investigated the effects of rafoxanide in multiple myeloma (MM) in vitro and in vivo. We found that rafoxanide inhibited cell proliferation and overcame the protective effect of the bone marrow (BM) microenvironment on MM cells. Rafoxanide induced cell apoptosis by reducing mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) and regulating the caspase pathway, while having no apparent toxic effect on normal cells. Rafoxanide also inhibited DNA synthesis and caused cell cycle arrest by regulating the cdc25A-degradation pathway. In addition, rafoxanide enhanced the DNA damage response by up-regulating the expression of γ-H2AX, and suppressed activation of the p38 MAPK pathway by down-regulating p38 MAPK phosphorylation and Stat1 phosphorylation. Rafoxanide treatment inhibited tumor growth, with no significant side effects, in an MM mouse xenograft model. Combination of rafoxanide with bortezomib or lenalidomide significantly induced synergistic cytotoxicity in MM cells. Finally, rafoxanide had anti-proliferation effect on both wild type and B-Raf V600E mutated MM cells. And the weaker anti-MM activity of rafoxanide than vemurafenib may indicate other potential mechanisms besides targeting B-Raf V600E mutation. Collectively, our results provide a rationale for use of this drug in MM treatment.

Targeting the PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway by pterostilbene attenuates mantle cell lymphoma progression.

Mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) is an aggressive and mostly incurable B-cell malignancy with frequent relapses after an initial response to standard chemotherapy. Therefore, novel therapies are urgently required to improve MCL clinical outcomes. In this study, MCL cell lines were treated with pterostilbene (PTE), a non-toxic natural phenolic compound primarily found in blueberries. The antitumor activity of PTE was examined by using the Cell Counting Kit-8, apoptosis assays, cell cycle analysis, JC-1 mitochondrial membrane potential assay, western blot analysis, and tumor xenograft models. PTE treatment induced a dose-dependent inhibition of cell proliferation, including the induction of cell apoptosis and cell cycle arrest at the G0/G1 phase. Moreover, the PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway was downregulated after PTE treatment, which might account for the anti-MCL effects of PTE. Synergistic cytotoxicity was also observed, both in MCL cells and in xenograft mouse models, when PTE was administered in combination with bortezomib (BTZ). The antitumor effects of PTE shown in our study provide an innovative option for MCL patients with poor responses to standardized therapy. It is noteworthy that the treatment combining PTE with BTZ warrants clinical investigation, which may offer an alternative and effective MCL treatment in the future.

Dihydrocelastrol exerts potent antitumor activity in mantle cell lymphoma cells via dual inhibition of mTORC1 and mTORC2.

Mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) is a distinct and highly aggressive subtype of B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Dihydrocelastrol (DHCE) is a dihydro-analog of celastrol, which is isolated from the traditional Chinese medicinal plant Tripterygium wilfordii. The present study aimed to investigate the effects of DHCE treatment on MCL cells, and to determine the mechanism underlying its potent antitumor activity in vitro and in vivo using the Cell Counting kit-8 assay, clonogenic assay, apoptosis assay, cell cycle analysis, immunofluorescence staining, western blotting and tumor xenograft models. The results demonstrated that DHCE treatment exerted minimal cytotoxic effects on normal cells, but markedly suppressed MCL cell proliferation by inducing G0/G1 phase cell cycle arrest, and inhibited MCL cell viability by stimulating apoptosis via extrinsic and intrinsic pathways. In addition, the results revealed that DHCE suppressed cell growth and proliferation by inhibiting mammalian target of rapamycin complex (mTORC)1-mediated phosphorylation of ribosomal protein S6 kinase and eukaryotic initiation factor 4E binding protein. Simultaneously, DHCE induced apoptosis and inhibited cell survival by suppressing mTORC2-mediated phosphorylation of protein kinase B and nuclear factor-κB activity. In addition to in vitro findings, DHCE treatment reduced the MCL tumor burden in a xenograft mouse model, without indications of toxicity. Furthermore, combined treatment with DHCE and bortezomib, a proteasome inhibitor, induced a synergistic cytotoxic effect on MCL cells. These findings indicated that DHCE may have the potential to serve as a novel therapeutic agent for the treatment of MCL through dually inhibiting mTORC1 and mTORC2.

DCZ3301, a novel aryl-guanidino inhibitor, induces cell apoptosis and cell cycle arrest via suppressing the PI3K/AKT pathway in T-cell leukemia/lymphoma.

DCZ3301, a novel aryl-guanidino compound, was previously found to have potent anti-tumor activity in myeloma and B-cell lymphoma. In the present study, we investigated the effects of DCZ3301 on T-cell leukemia/lymphoma cells both in vitro and in vivo via cell proliferation, cell cycle analysis, apoptosis assay, mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) assay, western blot analysis and tumor xenograft models. We found that DCZ3301 inhibited the viability of T-cell leukemia/lymphoma cells in a dose- and time-dependent manner. DCZ3301-induced G2/M cell cycle arrest, associated with downregulation of CDK1, cyclin B1, and cdc25C. DCZ3301 also induced cell apoptosis by decreasing MMP in T-cell leukemia/lymphoma cells, but had no significant pro-apoptotic effect on normal peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). In addition, DCZ3301-induced apoptosis may be mediated by the caspase-dependent pathway and suppressing the phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/AKT pathway. Finally, we showed that DCZ3301 treatment effectively inhibited tumor growth, with no significant side effects, in xenograft mouse models. In conclusion, these results suggest that DCZ3301 may be regarded as a new therapeutic strategy for T-cell leukemia/lymphoma patients.

PKC inhibition of sotrastaurin has antitumor activity in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma via regulating the expression of MCT-1.

MCT-1 (multiple copies in T-cell lymphoma-1), a novel oncogene, was originally identified in T-cell lymphoma. A recent study has demonstrated that MCT-1 is highly expressed in 85% of diffuse large B-cell lymphomas (DLBCL). PKC (protein kinase C) plays an essential role in signal transduction for multiple biologically active substances for activating cellular functions and proliferation. In this study, we found that the mRNA and protein expression levels of MCT-1 were visibly decreased after knocking down PKC by siRNA in SUDHL-4 and OCI-LY8 DLBCL cell lines. A selective PKC inhibitor, sotrastaurin, effectively inhibited cell proliferation and induced cell apoptosis in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Meanwhile, we also observed that the cell cycle was arrested in the G1 phase in sotrastaurin-treated cells. In addition, MCT-1 was down-regulated in the sotrastaurin treatment group in vivo. Furthermore, we demonstrated that the PKC inhibitor sotrastaurin induced cell apoptosis and cell cycle arrest in DLBCL cells potentially through regulating the expression of MCT-1. Our data suggest that targeting PKC may be a potential therapeutic approach for lymphomas and related malignancies that exhibit high levels of MCT-1 protein.

Dual inhibition of mTORC1/2 by DCZ0358 induces cytotoxicity in multiple myeloma and overcomes the protective effect of the bone marrow microenvironment.

Interaction of multiple myeloma (MM) cells with the bone marrow (BM) microenvironment promotes the proliferation, survival and chemoresistance of MM. The mTOR pathway plays a key role in these undesirable BM microenvironment-mediated events. We synthesized a novel alkaloid compound, DCZ0358, that effectively inhibits mTOR signaling via dual mTORC1/2 inhibition and exhibits potent anti-MM activity in cultured and primary MM cells, as well as a MM xenograft model but has little effect on normal cells. Importantly, we show that this compound can block the BM stromal cell-mediated activation of mTOR/Akt signaling and antagonizes the protective effect of the BM microenvironment. Moreover, DCZ0358 abrogates the bortezomib-triggered activation of Akt, leading to the synergism of DCZ0358 and bortezomib in MM cells. Taken together, our results provide the proof-of-concept for clinical evaluation of DCZ0358, alone or in combination, as an anti-MM agent in MM therapy.